December 24, 2008

What's At The Intersection Of Chocolate And Pop Music?

I have many friends who are chocolate lovers, but not many friends who are a fan of Grace Jones (that is if they know her at all). When Grace Jones first broke onto the art/music scene some 20 years ago, many thought of the gender-bending pop icon more as a Jean Paul Goude media creation and personality than a true talent. Her visual identity is always as important as her voice. Her latest album, Hurricane, brings new meaning to the idea of dancing confectionary The designer wanted to bring out the idea but Jones wanted to have control over her image, here’s the compromise.

Collaborating with Tom Hingston Studio. Jones once again works the conceit of the pop star as visual commodity, in this case featuring life-size versions of her made out of chocolate. The chocolatiers at Thorntons chocolate factory in Derbyshire, where the photo shoot took place, suggested casting molds for each body part and actually creating life-size chocolate versions of Jones. She immediately jumped on the idea. Not sure what she has in mind in terms of what part of her she wants people to eat first.

If you’ve ever been to one of those woman-power mask-making ceremonies, you know that the casting process is not for the claustrophobic. You have to sit still for 20 minutes, completely encased except for two small nostril holes, to let the mold set. Jones took it all in stride. I am not sure if I want a Grace Jones chocolate. I think I’d prefer Jessica Alba or Avril Lavigne or Beyonce. What’s your pick? For me, just give me a chocolate IPod.

Comments

What's At The Intersection Of Chocolate And Pop Music?

I have many friends who are chocolate lovers, but not many friends who are a fan of Grace Jones (that is if they know her at all). When Grace Jones first broke onto the art/music scene some 20 years ago, many thought of the gender-bending pop icon more as a Jean Paul Goude media creation and personality than a true talent. Her visual identity is always as important as her voice. Her latest album, Hurricane, brings new meaning to the idea of dancing confectionary The designer wanted to bring out the idea but Jones wanted to have control over her image, here’s the compromise.

Collaborating with Tom Hingston Studio. Jones once again works the conceit of the pop star as visual commodity, in this case featuring life-size versions of her made out of chocolate. The chocolatiers at Thorntons chocolate factory in Derbyshire, where the photo shoot took place, suggested casting molds for each body part and actually creating life-size chocolate versions of Jones. She immediately jumped on the idea. Not sure what she has in mind in terms of what part of her she wants people to eat first.

If you’ve ever been to one of those woman-power mask-making ceremonies, you know that the casting process is not for the claustrophobic. You have to sit still for 20 minutes, completely encased except for two small nostril holes, to let the mold set. Jones took it all in stride. I am not sure if I want a Grace Jones chocolate. I think I’d prefer Jessica Alba or Avril Lavigne or Beyonce. What’s your pick? For me, just give me a chocolate IPod.